Small Brown Bean Bug - Melanacanthus scutellaris

Family Alydidae

This page contains pictures and information about Small Brown Bean Bugs that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 12mm

The Small Brown Bean Bugs have the elongated body and brown in colour. They have spiny hind legs. Males have a pale patch in the scutellum. As the Riptortus sp. they also have the spins on shoulder but much smaller.


Photo: Keith Power, Toowoomba

Like other Alydine their nymphs are ant-like. Instars 1-3 bear a very close resemblance to the black ants of genus Polyrhachis.

Those bugs feed on most plants with seed pods, including beans and cassia, plants in the family Fabaceae.

Reference:
1. Small brown bean bug - Hugh Brier, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland.
2. Insect Reference Collection Database - ICDB, ENTOMOLOGY AT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WESTERN.